FOLD-UP TRAY
A fold-up tray for use in a vehicle is provided. The tray includes a top surface, a first section, a second section and a hinge. The first section includes a first portion of the top surface. The second section includes a second portion of the top surface. The hinge connects the first section and the second section, thereby affording an increased working surface when both portions of the tray are unfolded while also providing a stowable working surface when both portions of the tray are folded. In one embodiment, the hinge is a living hinge.
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The present invention relates generally to a usable surface for use in a vehicle and more particularly to a folding tray releasably securable to a bolster area of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONClipboards or other usable surfaces are well known and useful in a variety of applications in which a portable writing board is desired. The backseat occupants of a vehicle may use the clipboard for coloring or for doing other paperwork. Typically, such clipboards are lost or misplaced when used in the vehicle. Moreover, such boards are bulky or awkward for storing and if stored may consume excessive interior space.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a tray that is conveniently accessible to a vehicle occupant, saves space when stowed, is stowable within the vehicle, is aesthetically pleasing or provides an expanded working surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA fold-up tray for use in a vehicle is provided. The tray includes a top surface, a first section, a second section and a hinge. The first section includes a first portion of the top surface. The second section includes a second portion of the top surface. The hinge connects the first section and the second section, thereby affording an increased working surface when both portions of the tray are unfolded while also providing a stowable working surface when both portions of the tray are folded.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the tray advantageously provides a bi-fold clipboard that may be folded and fastened for storage into a panel or bolster area of a vehicle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the tray advantageously uses a living hinge to expand the useable surface while at the same time providing a folding capability in order to reduce the storage area for stowing the tray in the vehicle.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Throughout the figures and in the views, common elements are labeled with the same reference number. The common element may also include an additional number indicating that it is a particular type, kind or style of element for the embodiment presented. The reference numbers indicating a particular type, kind or style of element are not intended to be limiting, and are intended to help the reader in understanding the different embodiments presented in this invention.
In accordance with the present invention,
The storage location 16 of the bolster area 12 of this embodiment includes a back wall 26, side lips 27, 28 and a lower lip 29. A recess 30 is included in the back wall 26 to facilitate removal of the fold-up tray 20 from the bolster area 12 by the user. The fold-up tray 20, when stowed, rests upon the lower lip 29 and is held between the two side lips 27, 28 of the storage location 16. Typically, although not necessary, the bolster area 12 is formed from a single material piece in which the storage location 16 is formed. The storage location 16 may be designed so as to provide a flush mounting of the fold-up tray 20 when stowed and an aesthetically pleasing integrated surface when the fold-up tray is removed. The material used for constructing the bolster area or the fold-up tray may be plastic or any other suitable material combination.
The fold-up tray 20 of the present embodiment is best described with reference to
The fold-up tray 20 also has a lower surface 49 and outer edges 45, 46, 47, 48.
Optionally, other types of hinges may be used. For example the hinge might be a piano hinge, which would also allow for the compact storage of the tray and still provide the substantially planar surface. Optionally, to provide for a continuous surface where the hinge creates a void or other form of discontinuity across the usable surface, additional material layers may be used upon the top surface of the tray to bind the sections together over the hinged area.
The fold-up tray 20 includes a spring-loaded clip 40. The clip is attached to the second section 34 of the tray 20. The clip 40 includes a wire 41, a housing 42 and a spring (not shown). The spring preloads the wire 41 within the housing 42 so that the wire 41 may releasably load the second section 34 of the tray 20. The wire 41 may be used to secure user-selected materials when the tray 20 is in an unfolded configuration or may hold the two sections of the tray 20 together when folded. The clip 40 also holds the tray 20 in a folded configuration that facilitates storage into the bolster area 12 of a vehicle 10. The clip 40 may be constructed of various materials, including without limitation, metal, plastic, or any combination thereof. The clip 40 may also be constructed from various material processes, including injection molding or stamping each part, for example.
Optionally, the fold-up tray 20 might not include a clip.
Optionally, the fold-up tray 20 may include any other type of clip or binding device used for the retention of user selected materials or the like.
The hooks 54, 52 are made from spring steel. Optionally, the hooks may be formed integrally with the bolster area using a suitable material, thus eliminating the need for the rivets to attach the hooks to the bolster area.
The leg 68 may then be rotated 75 into the locked or deployed position 63 as shown in
After the leg 68 is secured in the deployed position 63, the tray 60 may be used to advantage in either the folded or unfolded position.
After the leg 68 is secured in the deployed position 63, the tray 60 may be adjusted.
As mentioned above, the tray 60 is connected to the leg 68. In this embodiment the tray 60 includes a slide rail 80 that is positionably connected to a top edge 83 in a slide slot 82 of the leg 68. The tray 60 may also be detached from the leg 68. The tray 60 may be used while connected to the leg 68 or may be insertably detached for use while unconnected from the leg 68.
The tray 60 of this embodiment has the same features mentioned above. Specifically the fold-up tray 60 includes the sections 32, 34 and the living hinge 36.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A fold-up tray for a vehicle comprising:
- a top surface;
- a first section that includes a first portion of the top surface;
- a second section that includes a second portion of the top surface; and
- a hinge, wherein the hinge couples said first section and said second section, whereby an increased working surface is provided by both portions when said tray is unfolded and a stowable working surface is provided by both portions when said tray is folded.
2. The fold-up tray in claim 1 further comprising a clip coupled to one of the sections, wherein the clip releasably engages said section, whereby papers or the like may be releasably retained by said clip.
3. The fold-up tray in claim 2, wherein said clip is a clipboard clip.
4. The fold-up tray in claim 3, wherein said clipboard clip includes a clip wire, a spring coupled to said clip wire, and a housing supportively receiving said spring and said wire, wherein said spring maintains a rotational load between said clip wire and said housing.
5. The fold-up tray in claim 1, wherein said hinge is a living hinge.
6. The fold-up tray in claim 5 wherein said living hinge, said first section and said second section are formed from a unitary piece of material.
7. The fold-up tray in claim 6 wherein the unitary piece of material is plastic.
8. The fold-up tray in claim 5 wherein said living hinge comprises a piano hinge coupled to said first section and said second section, and a material strip coupled to said top surface and said piano hinge, said material strip spans said piano hinge coupling said first section and said second section, whereby a substantially continuous top surface is provide when the tray is unfolded.
9. The fold-up tray in claim 1 further comprising a slide rail coupled to one of the sections, whereby said slide rail is selectively attachable to an arm or armrest of a vehicle.
10. A stowable tray assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a fold-up tray, said fold-up tray includes a top surface, a first section that includes a first portion of the top surface, a second section that includes a second portion of the top surface, and a hinge, wherein the hinge couples said first section and said second section, wherein an increased working surface is provided by both portions when said tray is unfolded and a stowable working surface is provided by both portions when said tray is folded; and
- a panel for releasably receiving said fold-up tray.
11. The stowable tray assembly in claim 10 wherein said panel is a bolster area, said bolster area includes a storage location for stowing said fold-up tray.
12. The stowable tray assembly in claim 11 wherein said storage location is recessed within said bolster area and includes a first side lip, a second side lip, a back wall separating said side lips and a lower lip, wherein the outer edges of said fold-up tray are releasably retained between said side lips, and said fold-up tray is stowable against said back wall of said storage location.
13. The stowable tray assembly in claim 11 wherein said storage location further includes a recess, whereby a user may removably access said tray by said recess in said storage location.
14. The stowable tray assembly in claim 11 wherein said fold-up tray may be releasably retained by a snap-fit engagement in said storage location.
15. The stowable tray assembly in claim 11 wherein said storage location includes at least one first hook oppositely opposing at least one second hook, both hooks coupled to said bolster area, wherein the outer edges of said fold-up tray are releasably retained between said hooks.
16. The stowable tray assembly in claim 11 wherein said storage location includes an arm rest and an arm positionably coupled to said arm rest, wherein said arm may releasably receive said fold-up tray, said arm having a stowed position and a deployed position.
17. A stowable tray assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a fold-up tray, said fold-up tray includes a top surface, a first section that includes a first portion of the top surface, a second section that includes a second portion of the top surface, and a hinge, wherein the hinge couples said first section and said second section, wherein an increased working surface is provided by both portions when said tray is unfolded and a stowable working surface is provided by both portions when said tray is folded;
- a slide rail coupled to one of said portions of said fold-up tray;
- a panel; and
- an arm positionably coupled to said panel, said arm includes a top edge and a slide slot coupled within said top edge, wherein said slide slot of said arm is coupled to said slide rail of said fold-up tray.
18. The stowable tray assembly in claim 17 further comprising a securing mechanism positionably coupled to said panel and said arm, wherein said arm has a stowed position and a deployed position, and said arm is securable in one of said positions by said securing mechanism.
19. The stowable tray assembly in claim 17 wherein said fold-up tray is positionably adjustable in said arm in the fore or aft direction.
20. The stowable tray assembly in claim 17 wherein said fold-up tray is releasably attachable to said arm, whereby a user may use said fold-up tray independently of said arm and may reattach said fold-up tray to said arm for stowage.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2006
Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION (Southfield, MI)
Inventors: Eric Mozer (Rochester, MI), Roger Catron (Washington, MI), John Frederick (Romeo, MI), Aaron Delong (Oxford, MI), Roland Adesanya (Flint, MI), Patrick Ayoub (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
Application Number: 10/908,708
International Classification: B60R 7/00 (20060101); B60R 11/00 (20060101); B60R 9/00 (20060101);